Young carers

A young carer or young caregiver is a type of care giver who is a child or young person (up to the age of 18 or in some programs 25) whose life is affected by looking after someone with a disability or a long-term illness.

The person they care for may be a parent, a sibling, another family member or a friend, but does not necessarily live in the same house as them. The care they give may be practical, physical, and emotional.

The terms "disability" and "long-term illness" do not mean just a physical disability or illness, but also cover, for example, mental illness, learning disability, or drug addiction, frailty or old age.